PAL JOEY -- First Preview Thoughts- Page 4

[jordangirl]

Posted: 11/15/08 at 6:41pm

I'm still surprised that Stockard Channing doesn't seem to be doing well in the show either, wonder if it's just a matter of her getting comfortable with the material

ray ~ Actually that was my first thought with her and the reason I didn't totally write her off (sadly, the rest of the show...meh). Since I'm not familiar with the original, I wasn't sure how the role is "supposed" to be played and couldn't tell if she just wasn't comfortable or if she was supposed to be that...frigid.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 11/15/08 at 7:14pm

Agree with Jordangirl.. I think with Channing, it's just a case of her becoming more comfortable with the role, and having more time.

She jumped the gun a few times with her lines (and flubbed a few as well) -

I think in time, she will be fine. Plimpton will still be the show, but Channing will be fine.

Its Hoff that is the problem. He is simply (and this horse is getting beaten to death) miscast. At intermission, I just turned to Sara and said.. "wow, is it me, or is he awful?"-

[SillySara]

Posted: 11/15/08 at 7:30pm

Well, I have to agree with what everyone else has said about the show thus far. (P.S. Hey Jordangirl, I am Testing's friend you were chatting with before the show. Hey! :))

My biggest overall problem with the show was that, besides Plimpton's musical numbers (she was absolutely fabulous), the musical numbers with Hoff and Channing were extremely one note. There was no crescendo or anything. It was very unmusical. I am easy to please, especially when it comes to musicals, and this was just not pleasing to me. Though I could have listened to Plimpton sing all night, what a voice she has! She was really a treat.

I really enjoyed the set and costumes. But that's about where it ended.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 11/15/08 at 7:32pm

Hey Sara! :) Sorry I bolted afterwards...it was a LONG week, like I told y'all before.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/15/08 at 8:34pm

He won a Tony for being a tough guy. They cast him because he won the Tony, as if winning the Tony made him (a) a star or (b) right for the role.

So it was doomed from the start, like the Roundabout Follies.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 1:18am

Tonight's special Sunday show was pretty tight being as it was preview 3 or 4. Stockard was on fine form and looks stunning in some of those frocks! She's not a singer but really puts 'BBB' over really movingly.
I agree that Hoff is wrong for the part, his sing ing is very off at times. It needs work and could end up being a great show. Great cast, great set, great costumes.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 1:27am

Its almost 10 years to the day that this great venue reopened as a major player on the Broadway scene again starting with the divinely decadent production of 'Cabaret'!

[cat4]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 8:44am

Saw it on Sunday.

Agree with everyone that Christian Hoff can't really dance or sing. 10 minutes into the show I found myself thinking :"How nice it would have been with Gene Kelly doing the show....." Tommy DeVito in Jersey Boys was a great role for Hoff. But here in Pal Joey, the lack of dancing and singing skills shows. And one can't help but wonder why so many women would fall for him as he's not even a bit charming in the role. Maybe he's trying to pull a Frank Sinatra here (as in the film version), but near the end of Act I when he was doing some dancing, it was painful to watch.

Stockard Channing's acting was topnotch, nice to see her back on B'way. Not sure though if this is the right role for her. Her singing is just average and I guess it didn't help that I listened to the 1995 Encores! recording earlier yesterday in which Patti LuPone had the part.

Marth Plimpton & Jenny Fellner are the better singers in the show. And credits to the costume designers. The black/sheer gown Channing wore was stunning.

In an ideal world producers would cast people most suitable (and with the best singing/dancing/acting skills) for the roles. But this is not an ideal world, and in an economic environment like this, they'll probably keep putting big names on B'way to seel tix, regardless of their qualifications.

This is not the worst new musical this season, and I'm just happy to see a revival (albeit a mediocre one) of a beloved musical, paying $30+. (Not sure if I'd say the same had I paid $121...)

[Tom1071]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 11:42am

I was there and I agree with the criticisms about Hoff. I was rather shocked at how disappointing his voice was.

Stockard Channing was great. Not a great singer but her acting was superb.

Martha Plimpton was the surprise of the night. Who knew she could sing!?

Did anyone else notice during "Zip" how Martha Plimpton was costumed to look like Stritch? The hat, glasses and suit. It was a definite homage to her.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 11:48am

Hoff and Stock both jump each others lines on two occasions i remember. I really look forward to seeing this again, hopefully in a few weeks time on another visit.
I got my seat for Sundays 7.30pm show at TKTS and paid $67 for a front row aisle seat- perfect- the stage was chest hight and the angle as perfect taking into account how close some shows are! I would have played $121 for that, no prob.
i wonder if they'll do a recording what with the names attached?

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 12:10pm

From what I hear about Goff's singing, I suspect a recording would be unlikely. I don't mean to sound anal, but Pal Joey is one of my favorite shows of all time and it's as if my baby (if I had one) were being mutilated. It really breaks my heart that this could be one of Roundabout's f__k-ups. It's been too long since the show's been done and now it sounds like Roundabout has done it again. They messesd up Follies, they messed up 3 Penny (unbelievably so), they almost messed up Pajama Game (saved only by Connick and O'Hara), they messed up Boys From Syracuse (which had done quite well when Encores! had done it a few years previously), and now it sounds like they're messing up Pal Joey.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 12:29pm

Yea, agreed I see exactly what your saying!
'The Pyjama Party' was dire!
'Threepenny Opera' just wasn't worth 3 cents!

[leefowler]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 12:30pm

How are the arrangements and dance music?

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 12:41pm

Really great, the dance arrangements are brilliant. The orchestra spread over the two mezz boxes works really well and they sound fantastic.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 12:41pm

How as Daniel Marcus? (URINETOWN, PIRATES, 1776..)

[MansMan]

Posted: 12/7/08 at 6:17pm

After Christian Hoff files a $5 million lawsuit against Roundabout and Joe Mantello for breach of contract, libel and conspiracy, his lawyers will be issuing subpoenas to logan0215, broadwaybaby086, testing1232 and others. They'll trace these thru isp records the way they did in that recent Colorado case. Many people think those early postings were planned and coordinated, and the lawyers will want to get to the bottom of it.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/7/08 at 7:08pm

wtf

[jaystarr]

Posted: 12/7/08 at 7:17pm

his lawyers will be issuing subpoenas to logan0215, broadwaybaby086, testing1232 and others.

huh?

LOL. These people are just ordinary broadway world posters that are expressing their opinions. I met some of them..I can assure you that they are NOT connected with Roundabout- basically they are just using their common sense! I dont see anything wrong with that?

J*

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/7/08 at 8:31pm

Welcome back, Jose.